Fuel Filter

ABSTRACT

A fuel filter assembly (10) for filtering diesel fuel includes a filter head (12), a spin-on replaceable element (13) and a collection bowl (15) removable from the element. The element includes a casing (52 ) with a turned-in edge portion at a lower end. An adaptor ring (69) is supported on said edge portion inside the element and includes an annular threaded portion (71). The collection bowl has an outer peripheral wall (74) with an annular threaded portion engaging the threaded portion of the adaptor ring. The outer peripheral wall of the bowl has an annular shoulder abutting the turned-in edge portion of said casing to damp said casing between the adaptor ring and the bowl, when the bowl is attached to the element. The adaptor ring has a plurality of spaced ribs (70) with projections that extend upward and radially outward to maintain the filter medium (55) spaced from an inner wall surface of the casing. A resilient member (68) holds the filter medium between a top plate (62) and the adaptor ring.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/097,787 filed on Jul.27, 1993, now abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No.07/683,096 filed on Apr. 10, 1991, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,244,571, which isa continuation of application Ser. No. 07/586,827 filed on Sep. 24,1990, now abandoned, which is a division of application Ser. No.07/370,097 filed on Jun. 20, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,997,555, which isa continuation of application Ser. No. 07/242,791 filed on Sep. 9, 1988,now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.07/032,834 filed on Mar. 30, 1987, now abandoned, which is acontinuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 06/784,292 filed on Oct. 7,1985, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,245, which is a continuation-in-part ofapplication Ser. No. 06/733,808 filed on May 14, 1985, now U.S. Pat. No.4,668,393.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to diesel fuel filters and more particularly to afuel filter which includes heater means therein for elevating thetemperature of the fuel to prevent buildup of residues and subsequentdogging of the fuel system.

The application of heater devices to diesel fuel filters has becomeaccepted in the field because of the successful results obtained and thefact that much wider temperature ranges can be accommodated, which hadpreviously introduced problems of dogging and plugging of the filters.While initially heaters were adapted to preexisting filter devices, ithas now become commonplace to incorporate the heater as an integral partof the filter assembly and to achieve an efficient heat transfer withthe fuel being passed to the filter element.

In particular, heater elements have been applied to the spin-on type offuel filter wherein it is desired not only to obtain an efficient heattransfer relationship, but also to provide an efficient housingstructure which can be incorporated safely into an engine compartmentand still provide relatively free access for filter changes, maintenanceand the like. Particular attention has been paid in such devices to theretention of a quantity of fuel in the filter head and/or the heaterelement so that when the filter element is exchanged there is not anexcessive spillage of fuel. An alternate scheme is to provide means forefficiently draining the filter casing or cartridge prior to removal ofthe spin-on element so as to avoid or minimize the fuel spillageproblem.

One device of this type is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,387,691 wherein aparticular form of heater structure is employed in the filter head of afilter assembly which includes a spin-on type of filter element.Particular attention is paid in this disclosure to the routing of fluidsthrough the heater structure and the filter medium so as to achieve anefficient and advantageous heat transfer relationship.

A similar arrangement of diesel fuel heater is shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,406,785 wherein a plurality of PTC fuel heater elements are disposedon a conducive plate and located within the filter head of a fuel filterassembly to achieve the heat transfer relationship. In this form ofapparatus, a circuitous path of travel for fluid flow through the heaterelement is provided which is on the order of 360° in angular length andthe heater is directly operative in the fuel path.

Still another form of prior art device is shown in U.S. Pat. No.4,596,224 wherein a separate insulative housing is provided for the fuelheater which housing is disposed between the filter head and the spin-onelement and in which, again, a circuitous path of travel for the fluidflow is provided.

A more recent disclosure is made in U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,161 wherein afuel heater structure is disposed in the filter head of the filterassembly. In this disclosure special structure is provided between thefilter head and the spin-on filter element to displace fuel which mighthave been trapped in this location and which avoids significant fuelspillage upon element replacement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The apparatus of the instant invention is an improvement over thesetypes of devices in providing a heater structure which is located in thefilter head of a filter assembly, which filter assembly includes acompound spin-on element comprising a casing for a filter elementsubassembly together with a removable threaded collection bowl. Thisform of structure is particularly suited for the spin-on type of filterelement in providing a convenient and safe mechanism for accommodatingthe element exchange and also providing an efficient heat transferrelationship between the fuel heater and the diesel fuel passing throughthe filter apparatus.

The apparatus of the instant invention is particularly concerned with aspin-on diesel fuel filter structure which incorporates a number offeatures in the die cast head structure for the assembly. These include,among others, the heater element and a particular form of return checkvalve in fluid communication with an inlet chamber in the filter headfor releasing trapped air and for returning fuel to the fuel system ofthe engine. The die cast head assembly includes not only inlet andoutlet ports for interconnection with the fuel system of the vehicle,but also additional ports for the provision of a vent/calibration valveand a vacuum switch, both of which are in fluid communication with anoutlet chamber in the filter head.

The entire filter assembly is supported by the filter head which may beattached at any convenient location in the engine compartment.Interconnection with the replacement spin-on element is made by means ofa threaded tube in the filter head which provides not only the mountingdevice but also a means for securing the fuel heater in the filter headand making electrical connection therewith. The fuel heater is anannular can structure having a central mounting aperture adapted toreceive the threaded tube and consisting of an upper insulating housingand a lower conductive plate which is in electrical connection with thethreaded tube. A feed-through electrical contact and thermostat assemblyprovides electrical power to a pair of PTC-type heater elements disposedon the conductive plate. A circuitous fuel path is established so that asuitable heat transfer relationship is achieved with the heaterelements.

The spin-on element comprises a removable collection bowl which isthreadedly attached to an adaptor member secured in the spin-on elementcasing. The casing in turn is supported by a rigid top plate from thethreaded tube and contains therewithin the filter element subassemblycomprising an annular filter medium contained within upper and lower endcaps and surrounding a central perforated supported tube. A filter drainassembly and water sensor probe are included in the collection bowl forremoval of water and other contaminants or for removal of fluidpreparatory to exchange of the spin-on element.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing of the fuel filter assembly of theinvention in a typical fuel supply and return system for a diesel engineand the like;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the fuel filter assembly of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the fuel filter assembly of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the fuel filter assembly of the invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the filter head portion of the fuel filterassembly;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the filter head assembly of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the return check valve used in the fuelfilter assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A fuel filter assembly 10 for filtering and heating fuel for dieselengines and the like comprises a filter head 12, a spin-on element 13and collection bowl 15. The filter head is fastened to an engine orother suitable structure by flange 16 and supports the entire fuelfilter assembly 10. Preferably, filter head 12 is a die cast head andincludes therein typical inlet port 18, outlet port 19, and connectedrespectively thereto, inlet chamber 21 and outlet chamber 22. Filterhead 12 is a generally circular structure having a flat annular mountingsurface 24 at the lower portion thereof for sealing engagement by thespin-on element 13 and further includes annular cavity 25 forming a partof inlet chamber 21 and surrounding a circular portion of outlet chamber22. Heater assembly 26 is received in cavity 25 of inlet chamber 21 andis secured in place by threaded tube 28, the central portion of whichcommunicates with outlet chamber 22. Filter head 12 further comprisesvent port 29 and vacuum switch port 30, both of which are in fluidcommunication with outlet chamber 22 and return check valve port 31which is in fluid communication with inlet chamber 21. Still further,filter head 12 includes the heater port 32 which houses a feed throughconnector 34 and thermostat 35 for supplying electrical power to heaterassembly 26.

Referring to FIG. 1, the fuel supply system for a typical diesel engineis depicted in schematic form as comprising fuel tank 40, fuel pump 41,the fuel filter assembly 10 of the instant invention, injection pump 42and a plurality of injectors 44. Typical fuel lines are interconnectedamong the various components of the system with, for example, fuel line45 connected to the inlet port 18 of filter assembly 10 and with variousbleed lines 46 providing a fuel return path from each of the injectors44 to the fuel tank 40. Bleed line 47 is also depicted as returning fuelfrom injection pump 42 to fuel tank 40 as a part of the fuel system. Notdepicted in FIG. 1 but understood as comprising a part of the fuelsystem, are pressure lines between the injection pump 42 and each of theinjectors 44 which supply fuel to the diesel engine. A further bleedline 48 is shown as connected between fuel filter assembly 10 and fueltank 40 by way of bleed lines such as 46, this being the line which isconnected from a return check valve 50 connected at the return checkvalve port 31. In turn, port 31 is connected to inlet chamber 21 offilter head 12 for venting air and fuel from fuel filter assembly 10which air is entrained in the diesel fuel or which is trapped thereinupon change of the spin-on element 13.

Referring now more particularly to the cross sectional view of FIG. 4,spin-on element 13 is seen to comprise a cylindrical housing or casing52 which houses filter element 54 for separating out contaminants andparticulate matter in the fuel passing through the filter assembly.Filter element 54 comprises filter medium 55 which is an annulus or loopof pleated paper element well know in the art or any other form offilter medium which would be suitable for separating out contaminants.Filter medium 55 is housed between upper end cap 56 and lower end cap 57each of which comprise generally circular sheet metal plates forsupporting the filter structure. Both of the end caps 56, 57 includecircular ridges at the outer periphery thereof which extend inwardly ofthe filter medium 55 to further contain the structure. A perforatedcentral support tube 58 is housed in the center of the structurecentrally of the filter medium 55 and all of the elements are securedtogether by means of potting compound closely adjacent the innersurfaces of the upper and bottom end caps 56, 57 respectively. Thereforeit is apparent that filter medium 55 divides the spin-on element casing52 into an outer peripheral fuel chamber 60 and a central fuel chamber61.

Filter element 54 further includes rigid top piece or top plate 62 whichis a disc shaped member generally of circular configuration having acentral threaded opening or aperture 64 and a plurality of furtheropenings 65 which surround the central aperture and provide a path forfuel flow through the top plate 62. An annular gasket 66 is providedabove top plate 62 and which is a resilient member retained in place onthe spin-on element 13 to provide sealed engagement with mountingsurface 24 of filter head 12. Spin-on element 13 further comprises aninner annular gasket 68 which is a resilient member pressed in place ina central opening in upper end cap 56 and retained in position by beingtrapped between end cap 56 and top plate 62. Gasket 68 provides a sealfor spin-on element 13 when in engagement with a smooth portion of theouter periphery of threaded tube 28 as depicted in FIG. 4. At the lowerportion thereof, spin-on element 13 further comprises adaptor ring 69which is a continuous ring shaped member adapted to lie flat and besealed against a lower turned-in edge of casing 52 by means of apolyester adhesive material. Adaptor ring 69 includes a plurality ofradially oriented and circumferentially distributed upstanding ribs 70and a depending annular threaded portion 71 for securement of collectionbowl 15. Upstanding ribs 70 include upstanding, radially extendingprojections or ridges thereon that extend in the peripheral fuel chamberbetween the bottom of filter medium 55 and an inner wall surface ofcasing 52 that serve to maintain the filter medium in spaced relationtherefrom. Upstanding ribs 70 provide fluid paths 72 therebetween forflow of contaminants and the like to the interior of collection bowl 15.

Spin-on element 13 is fabricated by placement and adhesion of adaptorring 69 against the lower turned-in end of casing 52. Thereafter, filterelement 54, as a subassembly, is positioned on the ribs 70 of adaptorring 69 thereby forming the fluid paths 72. Inner annular gasket 68 isplaced in position in the central opening of upper end cap 56 and topplate 62 placed thereover with the material forming the central threadedaperture 64 pressed into an inner peripheral opening of gasket 68. Athin metal plate covering top plate 62 and welded in place thereto isthen secured to casing 52 by means of a rolled edge to secure the entirespin-on element assembly 13. Annular gasket 66 is positioned in anannular groove above top plate 62 and is retained in place therein byseveral indented portions. A more detailed description of spin-onelement 13 may be obtained in co-pending application Ser. No. 784,292,now U.S. Pat. No. 4,692,245 assigned to the assignee of the instantinvention, which is incorporated herein by reference.

Referring now to the collection bowl 15 shown at the lower portion ofspin-on element 13 in FIG. 4, this device comprises a cup-like memberhaving bottom wall 73 and peripheral side wall 74. The latter has aninternally threaded portion thereon and culminates at the upper edge inan annular groove in which o-ring seal 76 is disposed for sealingengagement with the lower surface of the turned-in edge of casing 52.Collection bowl 15 has a filter drain assembly 78 mounted in the lowerportion thereof for disposing of water accumulated in the collectionbowl and for draining of the entire spin-on element 13 upon replacementof the latter. Filter drain 78 comprises pop-up valve 79 mounted in anopening in bottom wall 73 of collection bowl 15 as well as vent valve 80which is adapted to allow air to be drawn into the collection bowl 15 torelieve the partial vacuum created therein on opening of pop-up valve79. Further mounted in lower wall 73 of collection bowl 15 is a watersensor probe 82 which is an insulated electrical conductor adapted toachieve electrical continuity with fluid in the collection bowl when thefluid rises to a level to contact its exposed inner end.

Heater assembly 26 is shown in more detail in the views of FIGS. 5 and 6as comprising an annular container formed essentially of an upperinsulating cover 84 and a lower conductive cup 85 which are joined attheir margins and staked in place to provide a fuel heater enclosure 86of generally annular configuration. Upper insulated cover 84 isdepressed at the central portion thereof to form the inner margin ofannular enclosure 86 and is received on a central stud in filter head 12for securement in inlet chamber 21. Lower conductive cup 85 is depressedat two locations about its lower wall, spaced 180° apart for receipt ofa pair of heater element discs 88 which are the devices which supply thethermal energy for warming of the diesel fuel passing through heaterassembly 26. Heater discs 88 are positive temperature coefficient (PTC)semiconductor elements which are commonly employed for similar purposesand which have a self-regulating thermal capability due to theirrelatively high positive temperature coefficient. This providesregulation of the electrical input and thus, the power output of theheater discs. A conductive plate of generally half-ring configuration isjoined to the inner end of feed through connector 34 and thermostat 35to supply electrical power to one side of heater discs 88 by means of aplurality of spring fingers 90 depending from conductive plate 89 at thelocation of each of discs 88. As noted, lower conductive cup 85 is incontact with threaded tube 28 which in turn is threaded into filter head12, and with all of these devices made of highly conductive metal, thisarrangement provides an efficient ground connection for the heaterassembly 26.

Feed through connector 44 and thermostat 35 are combined as asubassembly for insertion in an opening in upper insulated cover 84, thelatter being sealed by means of an o-ring engagement with filter head 12while the thermostat 35 itself is sealed on the interior with a furthero-ring. As noted more clearly in the view of FIG. 6, heater assembly 26includes an outlet aperture 92 in the lower conductive cup 85, an inletaperture 94 in the upper insulated cover 84 and a barrier consisting ofradially positioned wall 95 extending downwardly from upper cover 84 tothe lower conductive cup 85 to provide a blockage in the annular fuelenclosure 86 in heater assembly 26. Thus, fuel entering inlet port 18and inlet chamber 21 of filter head 12 is directed to the upper cover 84of heater assembly 26 and into inlet opening 94, to be passed in acircuitous path of approximately 360° over and around the heaterelements discs 88 to outlet opening 92 in lower conductive cup 85. Fuelthen flows to the space between filter head 12 and top plate 62 ofspin-on element 13 to pass through the openings 65 in the top plate andinto outer peripheral fuel chamber 60. As fuel traverses filter medium55 moisture and other contaminants are collected on the outer surfacethereof and drop to the bottom of casing 52, thereafter to pass throughthe fluid paths 72 in adaptor ring 69 and to be collected in collectionbowl 15. Fuel that traverses filter medium 55 enters perforated tube 58and the central fuel chamber 61 and is delivered through threaded tube28 to outlet chamber 22 and outlet port 19 for delivery to a furtherpart of the fuel system of the vehicle.

In replacement of the spin-on element 13 it is only necessary to actuatethe filter drain 79 and remove not only contaminants from collectionbowl 15 but also fuel that may be entrained in filter medium 55,peripheral fuel chamber 60 and the cavities located above the spin-onelement 13 o Element 13 may then be unthreaded from filter head 12 andremoved therefrom for replacement purposes. During this procedure,collection bowl 15 is unthreaded from spin-on element 13, a new spin-onelement introduced to which the collection bowl 15 is threaded andsecured in position and the entire new spin-on element 13 attached tothreaded tube 28 to be secured to filter head 12. At this point a vacuumcould be applied to vent valve 96 which is merely a check valve threadedinto vent valve port 29 to draw fuel throughout the filter assemblyuntil the outlet chamber 22 is filled or alternatively a fuel supplypump as at 41 could be actuated to force fluid through the filterassembly until the apparatus is again filled. In this procedure air thathas been introduced into the assembly during interchange of spin-onelement 13 will tend to rise to the top of inlet chamber 21 and air thatis entrained in the diesel fuel will similarly rise to the top of inletchamber 21. At this location, return check valve 50 will becomeoperative to vent air from the chamber and fluid as well to the returnline 48 to be returned eventually to the fuel tank 40. In this manner aconsiderable amount of air which had previously been trapped in the fuelfilter assembly will be expunged therefrom to provide more reliableoperating characteristics.

Referring to the FIG. 7 cross sectional view, return check valve 50comprises metal body member 101 having a hex portion thereon, anexternally threaded inner end, and a central axial stepped bore 103therein. The outer end portion of body 101 is a reduced tubular parthaving barbs 104 thereon and a closure member 105 at the outer end toprovide a fitting for push on tubing or the like to serve as a drainline for return of fuel to a fuel tank 40. Closure member 105 includes asmall central orifice 106 therein which is typically on the order of0.040 inches in diameter and which serves as a device to restrict flowof fuel through the return check valve 50. Inner end 107 of bore 103 isenlarged and the bore 103 is stepped in several locations toward theoutlet end at orifice 106. Seated in bore 103, against shoulder 108 ischeck valve 110 which is a single piece elastomeric part in the form ofa duck-bill valve. Check valve 110 comprises a circular entrance ring114 of relatively thick proportions, a tubular portion 115 and a pair oflips 116 in the shape of a duck's bill which provides a check valvefunction for the valve 110. The lips 116 taper inwardly from tubularportion 115 and are closely adjacent one another at their downstream endto provide a seal against fluid flow in the reverse direction, but aresufficiently flexible to be distended slightly upon fluid flow from theinlet of check valve 50 toward the orifice 106 to provide very littleresistance to such fluid flow. Similarly, air that is trapped withininlet chamber 21 of filter head 12, passes with the fluid through checkvalve 50 to fuel tank 40. The relatively small size of outlet orifice106 in return check valve 50 assures that while a substantiallycontinuous flow of fluid is provided such flow will be restricted to arelatively minimal amount sufficient to assure clearance of entrappedair in filter head 12. Since return check valve 50 is connected frominlet chamber 21 to the fuel tank 40 it will be noted that it is inbypass connection of filter medium 55 and does provide some relief forexcessive pressure differentials exhibited at the filter medium 55. Itwill be noted that the vacuum switch 98 of conventional variety isthreaded in vacuum switch port 30 of filter head 12 in fluidcommunication with outlet port 19 so as to provide an indication of thepressure level in this chamber and a signal of the clogging orcontamination of filter medium 55 so that replacement can be performedas necessary.

I claim:
 1. A filter element comprising:a housing having a generallycylindrical inner wall surface; an annular filter medium separating acentral fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber; a ring shapedmember; said housing having a turned in lower edge portion supportingsaid ring shaped member and filter medium; said ring shaped memberhaving an annular threaded portion whereby a collection bowl may beremovably attached to said element; a plurality of angularly spaced ribsin supported relation of said ring shaped member said ribs havingcontaminant flow passages extending thereinbetween, wherein said flowpassages enable contaminants to pass externally of said filter mediumfrom said peripheral fuel chamber to said attached collection bowl. 2.The filter element according to claim 1 and further comprising spacingmeans in supported relation of said ring shaped member and extending insaid peripheral fuel chamber for maintaining said annular filter mediumdisposed from said inner wall surface, and wherein said contaminant flowpassages extend through said spacing means.
 3. The filter elementaccording to claim 2 wherein said element includes a disc shaped memberlongitudinally disposed at an opposed end of said housing from said ringshaped member and a first resilient member extending intermediate ofsaid disc shaped member and said annular filter medium, and wherein saidfilter medium is held in supported relation intermediate of firstresilient member and said ring shaped member.
 4. The filter elementaccording to claim 3 and wherein said first resilient member isgenerally circular and bounds a center area, and wherein said centerarea is in fluid communication with said central fuel chamber.
 5. A fuelfilter element for a fuel filter assembly including filter head and acollection bowl, said element comprising:a housing having a generallycylindrical inner wall surface; an annular filter medium for separatinga central fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber; a ring shapedmember; said housing having a turned in lower edge portion supportingsaid ring shaped member and filter medium; said ring shaped memberhaving an annular threaded portion whereby said collection bowl may beremovably attached to said element; and a plurality of circumferentiallyspaced radially extending projections in supported relation of said ringshaped member and extending in said peripheral fuel chamber intermediateof said inner wall surface and said filter medium, said collection bowlin fluid communication with said peripheral fuel chamber through spacesbetween said projections, whereby contaminants in said peripheral fuelchamber are enabled to pass to said collection bowl.
 6. The fuel filterelement according to claim 5 and further comprising a disc shaped memberdisposed longitudinally of said ring shaped member, and a firstresilient member intermediate of said filter medium and said disc shapedmember, wherein said filter medium is held intermediate in supportedrelation between said first resilient member and said ring shapedmember.
 7. The fuel filter element according to claim 6 wherein saiddisc shaped member includes a first fluid opening in fluid communicationwith said central fuel chamber, and at least one further fluid openingin fluid communication with said peripheral fluid chamber.
 8. The fuelfilter element according to claim 5 wherein said contaminants areenabled to pass downwardly and interiorly of said annularly threadedportion of said ring shaped member.
 9. A fuel filter elementcomprising:a generally cylindrical housing; an annular filter medium forseparating a central fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber; a ringshaped member; said housing having a turned in lower edge portionsupporting said ring shaped member and filter medium; said ring shapedmember having an annular threaded portion, said annular threaded portionsurrounding a ring member opening in said ring shaped member; at leastone contaminant flow passage extending between said peripheral fuelchamber and said ring member opening externally of said filter mediumwhereby a collection bowl may be removably attached to said ring shapedmember in fluid communication with said ring member opening.
 10. Thefilter element according to claim 9 wherein said housing has an innersurface, and further comprising spacing means in supported relation ofsaid ring shaped member maintaining said filter medium in spacedrelation of said inner surface.
 11. A fuel filter element for a fuelfilter assembly including a collection bowl, said element comprising:agenerally cylindrical housing; an annular filter medium separating acentral fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber; a ring shapedmember; said housing having a turned in lower edge portion supportingsaid ring shaped member and filter medium; said ring shaped memberhaving an annular threaded portion whereby said collection bowl may beremovably attached to said element; at least one flow passage extendingfrom said peripheral fuel chamber to said collection bowl when saidcollection bowl is attached to said element, wherein said flow passageextends interiorly of said annular threaded portion of said ring shapedmember and externally of said filter medium, whereby contaminants insaid peripheral fuel chamber are enabled to flow through said flowpassage downwardly into said collection bowl; a disc shaped member at anend of said element opposite of said ring shaped member; a resilientmember in said housing intermediate of said disc shaped member and saidfilter medium whereby said filter medium is held in said housing inintermediate supported relation between said ring shaped member and saidresilient member; a central threaded opening in said disc shaped memberin fluid communication with said central fuel chamber, and at least onefurther fluid opening in said disc shaped member disposed radiallyoutward from said threaded opening, said further fluid opening in fluidcommunication with said peripheral fuel chamber.
 12. The filter elementaccording to claim 11 and further including a first disc shaped end capat an end of said filter medium opposite said ring shaped member, saidfirst end cap having a centered, circular first end cap openingtherethrough to said central fuel chamber, and wherein said resilientmember is generally circular in cross section and includes a firstportion extending into said first end cap opening and a second portionhaving a greater diameter than said first portion, said second portiondisposed between and in abutting relation with said first disc shapedmember and said first end cap.
 13. The filter element according to claim12 wherein said second portion of said resilient member maintains saidfirst end cap disposed away from said disc shaped member, whereby fuelin said peripheral fuel chamber is enabled to flow between said firstend cap and said disc shaped member to said further fluid opening insaid disc shaped member.
 14. A fuel filter element, comprising:agenerally cylindrical housing; an annular filter medium separating acentral fuel chamber from a peripheral fuel chamber in said housing; aring shaped member; said housing having a turned in lower edge portionsupporting said ring shaped member and said filter medium, said ringshaped member having an annular threaded portion, said annular threadedportion having an opening therethrough; at least one flow passage fromsaid peripheral fuel chamber and through said opening in said threadedportion externally of said filter medium, whereby a collection bowl isattachable to said threaded portion and contaminants are enabled to passfrom said peripheral fuel chamber to said collection bowl withoutpassing through said filter medium; a disc shaped member at an end ofsaid element opposite of said ring shaped member; a resilient member insaid housing intermediate of said disc shaped member and said filtermedium, whereby said filter medium is held in said housing in supportedrelation between said ring shaped member and said resilient member; acentral threaded opening in said disc shaped member in fluidcommunication with said central fuel chamber; and at least one furtherfluid opening in said disc shaped member disposed radially outward fromsaid threaded opening, said further fluid opening in fluid communicationwith said peripheral fuel chamber.
 15. A fuel filter element for a fuelfilter assembly including a collection bowl,said filter elementcomprising: a housing having a generally cylindrical inner wall surface;an annular filter medium separating a central fuel chamber from aperipheral fuel chamber; a ring shaped member; said housing having aturned in lower edge portion supporting said ring shaped member andfilter medium, said ring shaped member having an annular threadedportion whereby said collection bowl may be removably attached to saidelement; spacing means in supported relation of said ring shaped memberand extending in said peripheral fuel chamber for maintaining saidannular filter medium disposed away from said inner wall surface; and atleast one contaminant flow passage extending from said peripheral fuelchamber through said spacing means externally of said medium, andwherein said collection bowl is in fluid communication with saidperipheral fuel chamber through said contaminant flow passage when saidcollection bowl is attached to said element, whereby contaminants insaid peripheral fuel chamber are enabled to flow downward into saidcollection bowl.
 16. The filter element according to claim 15 whereinsaid element includes a disc shaped member longitudinally disposed at anopposed end of said housing from said ring shaped member and a firstresilient member extending intermediate of said disc shaped member andsaid annular filter medium, and wherein said filter medium is held insupported relation intermediate of first resilient member and said ringshaped member.
 17. The filter element according to claim 16 and whereinsaid first resilient member is generally circular and bounds a centerarea, and wherein said center area is in fluid communication with saidcentral fuel chamber.
 18. The filter element according to claim 17wherein said disc shaped member includes a central threaded openingtherethrough, said central threaded opening in fluid communication withsaid central fuel chamber.
 19. The filter element according to claim 18wherein said disc shaped member includes at least one further fluidopening therethrough, said further opening radially disposed outward ofsaid first resilient member, said further fluid opening in fluidcommunication with said peripheral fuel chamber.
 20. The filter elementaccording to claim 19 wherein said element further comprises a furthercontinuous resilient member in supported relation of said disc shapedmember and extending longitudinally outward therefrom, said furtherresilient member disposed radially outward of said further openings insaid disc shaped member, said further resilient member adapted forengaging said filter head in fluid-tight relation when said element isattached thereto.
 21. The filter element according to claims 18 whereinsaid disc shaped member includes a central threaded openingtherethrough, said central threaded opening in fluid communication withsaid central fuel chamber.
 22. The filter element according to claim 21,wherein said disc shaped member includes at least one further fluidopening therethrough, said further opening radially disposed outward ofsaid first resilient member, said further fluid opening in fluidcommunication with said peripheral fuel chamber.
 23. The filter elementaccording to claim 22 wherein said element further comprises a furthercontinuous resilient member in supported relation of said disc shapedmember and extending longitudinally outward therefrom, said furtherresilient member disposed radially outward of said further openings insaid disc shaped member, said further resilient member adapted forengaging said filter head in fluid-tight relation when said element isattached thereto.
 24. A filter element comprising:a generallycylindrical housing; an annular ring of filter medium in said housingseparating a peripheral fuel chamber from a central fuel chamber; animperforate end cap bounding said ring of filter medium and said centralfuel chamber at a first longitudinal end thereof; a ring shaped member,said ring shaped member having supported thereon an annularly threadedportion, said annularly threaded portion surrounding a ring memberopening, whereby a contaminant collection bowl may be removably attachedto said element in fluid communication with said ring member opening;said housing having a turned in edge portion in supporting relation withsaid ring shaped member; and at least one member portion supported onsaid ring shaped member and in engagement with said end cap, and a fluidpath past said member portion from said peripheral fuel chamber to saidring member opening externally of said filter medium for flow ofcontaminants from said peripheral fuel chamber to said ring memberopening.